Vandoorne, Spencer Claim Season Two Titles

Borsepher NaNa won the NSRS season finale at Talladega Superspeedway, while Danny Vandoorne celebrated his second championship in as many seasons by taking the inaugural NSRS crown.

The Talladega event was one of the most exciting of the NSRS season, displaying restrictor plate racing at its most dramatic. There were 13 lead changes in the 47-lap race, with eight different competitors leading throughout the event. Ultimately, NaNa led the last four laps to collect his first NSRS victory.

While the racing at the front was exciting, there was also a big crash, a signature of plate racing at Talladega. When Kurt Gunnabee slowed with what is being reported as a tire issue, the field stacked up until Charlotte Bowey collided with Gunnabee, triggering a multi-car incident.

Vandoorne only finished 14th in the race, pitting late after falling short on a fuel mileage gamble. However, he finished just one spot behind Kevin Keselowski, protecting his points lead entering the final race. Vandoorne won the title by 27 points over Keselowski, with Tilly Tamburlaine finishing third, Kurt Gunnabee fourth despite his early exit, and Alex Light rounding out the top five.

As for the race results, NaNa held off Julia O’Sullivan in the closing laps, while Niki Lauda, Jr. finished third. Robert Phelps and Rory Walker rounded out the top five.

All Spark Spencer III needed to do to clinch the Season Two STSC championship was qualify for the A-Main. Instead, he started on the pole and led every lap at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway to close out his championship season on top.

With the win, Spencer finished 180 points ahead of Rick James, who closed out the season with a sixth-place run at LaCrosse. Cooter Bigsby fell to third in the final standings with a 24th place finish at LaCrosse, whils Satoshi Nakata and Yuno Wozy rounded out the top five in the points chase.

Drunk Tuck managed to not crash into five other drivers for a change, and showed that when he does so, he’s actually pretty fast. Tuck finished second, 8.5 seconds behind the dominant Spencer. Red Clifford came home third, with Randy Trombone and Jon Ross completing the top five.

Spencer’s season was nothing short of dominant. Spencer won six of the 15 STSC events this season and finished in the top ten a staggering 12 times. 10 times, Spencer was among the top five finishers. Spencer’s overwhelming consistency and dominance allowed him to cruise to the S2 STSC championship, and makes him one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year when he makes the jump to NSRS next season.